Ice element powered cuber



C- C. BAUERLEIN ICE ELEMENT POWERED CUBER Dec. 18, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23. 1960 Dec. 18, 1962 c. c. BAUERLEIN ICE ELEMENT POWERED CUBER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25. 1960 77 f9 78 so 3,668,662 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 Illinois Filed Sept. 23, 1%0, Ser. No. 57,963 5 Claims. ((11. 62353) This invention relates to automatic ice making devices of the type which are adapted to be installed Within the freezing compartments of household refrigerators. More particularly the invention is directed to an impact ejection type ice making apparatus wherein individual ice blocks are ejected from their respective molds by a hammer blow produced by release of a compression spring and to a means for cyclicly controlling filling of the ice mold with water to be frozen into ice blocks.

The ice making apparatus hereinafter described includes a frusto-conical shaped ice mold having a side wall which diverges upwardly and outwardly from the base thereof. At least a portion of the base is movable and may comprise either a movable diaphragm or an element slidably mounted within the stationary base portion. Subsequent to freezing of water within this ice mold, the frozen ice block may be ejected or dislodged from the side wall of the mold by striking the movable base portion of the mold with a hammer-like blow.

The hammer-like blow is imparted to the movable base wall portion of the ice mold by means of a spring urged hammer. Means are provided to load the spring and to thereafter release the spring to effect the hammer blow- A temperature sensitive power element is disposed below the ice mold and is operable upon extensible movement of a power member therefrom to compress a spring and thereafter effect release of the spring to create the hammer blow which is operable to eject an ice block from the ice mold.

When temperature sensitive elements are employed to control some facet of the operation of an automatic ice making apparatus, it has generally been found desirable to eifect extensible movement of the power member from the casing of the element at that time when the water within the ice mold has frozen into an ice block.

In the ice making apparatus which will hereinafter be described in detail, I employ -a temperature sensitive element which has its sensing portion disposed in the same freezing compartment as the ice mold and in proximity thereto and which contains water within the casing thereof. A very small amount of alcohol may also be mixed in with the Water to prevent complete freezing thereof. However, assuming that the water within the casing of the element and the water within the ice mold are initially at the same temperature, the water within the two confining bodies will freeze at approximately the same rate; the water within the element cooling at a slightly slower rate due to the slight insulating characteristics of the wall of the casing. The power member of the element will move extensibly from the casing as a result of the expansion of the water-alcohol mixture upon freezing thereof.

A resistor heater is wound about the temperature sensing portion of the element which is energizable to thaw the water-alcohol mixture within the sensing portion of the element to reduce its volume and thereby permit retraction of the power member by a return spring. If the water within the element is initially at a somewhat higher temperature than the water used to fill the ice mold, then operation of the element will be effected hysteretically with respect to the freezing of water within the ice mold.

The temperature sensitive element is located directly beneath the ice mold, thereby minimizing power loss and multiplicity of parts.

A slug valve is associated with the ice making apparatus which has a volumetrically variable chamber therein which is communicable with an inlet and an outlet from the valve. The inlet is connected to a source of water and has an inlet valve associated therewith. An outlet valve is also associated with the outlet which serves to control the flow of fluid from the slug valve chamber to the ice mold. Actuation of the inlet and outlet valves is effected by movement of pins connected therewith which extend exteriorly of the valve body. Movement of these pins is; in turn, effected by movement of a motion translation member which has one end engageable with the pins and which has an opposite end disposed adjacent the temperature sensitive element.

A pivoted lever interconnects the power member of the temperature sensitive element and the motion translation member so that movement of the motion translation member along its longitudinal axis will be effected upon axial extensible or retractable movement of the power member. There is a lost motion connection between the pivoted lever and the motion translation members so that during that interval when the power member is moving extensibly from the element to load the compressi-on spring which will subsequently be released to effect a hammer-like blow against the movable base of the ice mold, no movement of the motion translation mem her and consequently no actuation of the slug valve, will be effected.

An ice level sensing arm is associated with the slug valve which is operable during each ejecting cycle of the ice making apparatus .to sense the level of ice blocks within a collection tray. A master switch, operable to control energization of the entire ice making assembly is associated with the ice making apparatus which is operated as a function of the rotated position of the ice sensing arm during certain intervals. The master switch is generally open and only closed subsequent to ejection of an ice block from its respective mold to permit further cycling of the apparatus. But closure of the switch is not permitted in those instances when the sensing arm senses that the ice blocks within the collection tray have reached a predetermined level and when the arm is consequently prevented from returning to its normal level sensing position.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of an ice mold having a flexible resilient base wall. Impact ejection type ice molds heretofore constructed have employed movable elements slidably mounted within the base wall of the mold. The provision of a flexible base wall which is permanently sealed to the side Wall of the ice mold prevents any leakage of fluid therepast and, due to its natural resiliency, does not necessitate the provision of a separate return spring. flexible diaphragm which serves to receive the hammer blows and to transmit the same to the ice block within the ice mold.

It is therefore a primary object of the present inven tion to provide an improved impact ejection type ice making apparatus wherein frozen ice blocks are ejected from their respective molds by an impact shock imparted to the movable base of the ice mold and where in the hammer blow is effected as a function of the temperature of fluid within the ice mold.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved means for elfecting operation of the slug valve as a function of the rate of freezing of water within the ice mold.

Yet another object of the invent-ion resides in the A hammer button is centrally secured to the provision of an ice mold for an impact ejection type ice making apparatus which employs a flexible resilient base wall which is sealed to the side wall of the ice mold.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of an ice making assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end View of the ice making apparatus showing the level sensing mechanism in an ice level sensing position;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view which is similar in nature to FIGURE 1 but which shows the disposition of various parts of the mechanism just prior to spring release; and

FIGURE 4. is another view which is similar in nature to FIGURE 1 but which shows the disposition of various parts of the mechanism as an ice block is being ejected from the ice mold.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE 1, a mold block is mounted on the insulated side wall 11 of a freezing compartment 12 of a normal household refrigerator. The mold block 101s formed of a block of good thermally conductive material such as.

aluminum or the like and has a frusto-conically shaped ice mold 13 formed therein which is apertured at the radially reduced end of the frustum as indicated at 14. In order to facilitate ejection of ice blocks from the ice mold 13, the side wall of the mold is coated with a fine coating of Teflon 15 or the like.

' A bore 17 is formed within the block 10 and is coaxially aligned with the aperture 14 and terminates in an annular shoulder 18 adjacent the lowermost portion of the mold 13. An annular recess 19 is formed within the shoulder 18 which serves to receive the peripheral annular bead 20 of a flexible resilient base wall member or diaphragm 21.

A retainer 22 is press titted within the bore 17 and 7 serves to maintain the bead 28 within recess 19 to main! tain a fluid tight seal between the periphery of the diaphragm 21 and the mold block 10. A convex steel button 23 is centrally fitted to the diaphragm 21 and has an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the aperture 14 so that the button 23 can have relative movement with respect to the aperture 14, axially thereof. It may be formed in two sections as shown or may comprise a pair of half sections bonded to the diaphragm 21; the particular construction thereof being a matter of choice.

A hammer 25 is slidably mounted within the bore 17 and has a head 26 which is engageable with the button 23. Swift upward movement of the hammer 25 into engagement with the button 23 will impart a shock load to the button 23 and will effect ejection of mice block from the mold well 13 if the hammer blow carries sufficient force.

A compression spring 27 is positioned within the bore 17 having one end disposed in engagement with an annular lip 28 of the retainer 22 and having its opposite end abutting the hammer 2S and encircling the hammer head 26. This spring serves to bias the hammer 25 downwardly within'the borel? and is a relatively light weight p ns- A temperature sensitive power unit 30is mounted on the mold block 10 by means of a retaining ring 31 which is snap-fitted within an annular groove 32 formed in the casing 33 thereof and which serves to snugly grip a plate 34 which is screw-threaded into the mold block 10 and which lies between the ring and an enlarged annular ring 35 formed about the casing 33. The power I V 3,068,662 7 m for reciprocablemovement within the guide 33 and which is extensible from the guide upon expansion of the alcohol-water mixture disposed within the temperature sensing portion 37. The guide 33 and power member 38 extend upwardly within the bore 17 and are disposed in coaxial alignment with the aperture 14.

Unlike the usual type of temperature sensitive power unit, the power unit which I have devised contains a substance (water) which is expansible upon cooling. As a result, this power unit is particularly suited for use in controlling one or more of the ice harvesting functions in an automatic ice making apparatus.

If the power unit is disposed with its temperature sensitive portion in the same freezing compartment as the ice mold, the water-alcohol mixture within the power unit will freeze and consequently expand at approximately the same rate as water within the ice mold. The casing of the temperature sensitive portion of the power unit will, of course, provide some measure of insulation. In addition, the mixing of alcohol with the water will slow down the freezing of the temperature sensitive substance so that freezing and consequent expansion of the expansible liquid will be effected hysteretically with respect to the freezing of water within the ice mold. As will be pointed out, this feature will assure that the water within the ice mold is completely frozen prior to the ice block ejecting cycle.

The hammer 25 is internally bored as at 39 and is adapted to freely slidably receive the upper end portion of the power member 38. The power member 38 has an annular circumferential groove formed therearound which is adapted to receive the upper end portion of a spring stirrup 40 to operably connect the stirrup with the power member so that they will move with one another. The spring stirrup 40 fits slidably over the outer surface of the guide portion 33 and terminates in an outwardly extending annular flange 41.

The bore 17 is radially enlarged as indicated at 42 and a shoulder 43 is formed intermediate this radially enlarged portion and the relatively radially reduced portion thereof. A spring retainer 44 is seated on the shoulder 43 and serves to limit the degree of movement of the hammer 25 and further serves as a seat for one end of a compression spring 45 which has its opposite end seated against the outwardly extending annular flange 41 of the spring stirrup 44 A compression spring 47, having a smaller radius than the compression spring 45, is also seated on the outwardly extending annular flange 41 and has its opposite end disposed in abutment with the lowermost surface of the hammer .25. The spring 47 is a relatively heavy spring and is utilized as the ejector spring for effecting ejection of an ice block from the mold 13. This spring may have a compressive strength in the magnitude of 65 pounds or greater. The ejector spring 47 is, therefore, operable to efiect the actual ejecting operation while the spring 45 is operable to bias the power member 38 to its most retracted position with respect to the casing 33.

The side wall of the mold block 10 is apertured at 53 to receive a detent housing 54 which, inturn, slidably receives a spring urged detent 55. A detent socket 56 is formed within the side of thehammer 25 and is adapted to receive the rounded inner end portion of the detent 55..

A small compression spring 57 is disposed within the housing 54 and serves to bias the detent to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. A plunger 58 having a rounded head 59 is disposed within the detent socket 56 with the rounded end portion thereof normally disposed'in engagement with the rounded inner end portion of the detent 55.

The opposite end of the plunger 58 extends through a bore 60 formed in the hammer 25 in coaxial alignment with the socket 56 and may engage the power member 38. The diameter of the bore 60 is somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the head 59 so that this head will limit the degree of movement of the plunger 58 toward the centerof the bore 39.

The upper end portion of the power member 38 is chamfered as at 62 and extends upwardly within the bore 39 in free sliding contact with the wall thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the hammer 25 adjacent and below the bore 56 is relieved as at 63 so that when the detent 55 has been moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, the hammer may freely move upwardly therepast but so that the detent 55 extending inwardly from the aperture 53 will limit the degree of axial movement of the hammer 25; the detent striking the lip 64 at the lowermost end of the relieved portion 63 or the lip 65 above the bore 56.

From the foregoing it will be understood that upward movement of the power member 38 from its most retracted position will act to move the spring stirrup 40 up wardly and will thereby compress springs 45 and 47. The detent 55 will be urged by the spring 57 into the bore 56 and will prevent upward movement of the hammer 25 until it is moved out of the bore 56. When the springs have been compressed nearly to their fullest extent, the chamfered upper end portion 62 of the power member 38 will engage the innermost end of the plunger 58 to move that plunger to the right and to thereby move the detent 55 out of the bore 56. When the detent 55 moves out of the bore 56 the spring 47 will force the hammerupwardly to impart a shock load to the button 23 which, in combination with the diaphragm 21, defines the base of the ice mold 13. This shock will act toforcibly eject an ice block from the mold 13 or will at least break the bond between the ice block and the side wall of the-moldythe result being dependent upon the magnitude of the shock load applied.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 1, the slug valve 69 which is used for filling the icemold 13 comprises generally a two part body including a valve section 70 and a cap 71. A flexible diaphragm 72 having a plate 72a imbedded therein, extends across the interior of a fluid chamber 73 formed intermediate the upper and lower sections and has a peripheral bead 74- which is fitted within an annular groove 75 formed on the upper peripheral edge portion of the section 70. The cap 71 is fitted on top of the section 70 to maintain the peripheral bead 74 in the groove 75 and has its edges crimped over the upper end portion of section 70 to maintain the various parts in fluid tight relation with one another.

Aninlet passage 76 is formed within the section 70 which is communicable with an inlet 77 which is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized fluid. A port 78 communicates the passage 76 with inlet 77 and has a reciprocable poppet valve 79 disposed therein which is operable to control fluid flow therethrough. The valve 79 has a stem 80 extending through the port 78 which extends exteriorly of section 70. A compression spring 81 has one end seated against the valve 79 and its opposite end seated against an annular shoulder, formed within the connecting nipple for the inlet 77, which is operable to normally bias the poppet valve 79 to a closed position with respect to the port 78. Depression of the stem 80 will, however, act to move the valve 79 against the opposing biasing force of spring 81 to open communication between the inlet 77 and the passageway 76 to permit fluid to flow into the chamber 73.

A compression spring 82 is fitted within the chamber formed between the diaphragm 72 and the cap 71 which has one end seated against the cap and its opposite end seated against the diaphragm to normally bias the diaphragrn 72 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Upon opening of the inlet valve 79, fluid under pressure will move through the passage 76 into the chamber 73 and, assuming that the fluid is under normal household pressures, it will effect compression of the spring 82 to thereby enlarge the volumetric capacity of fluid chamber 73.

A passage 85 opens from the chamber '73 and is com municable through a port 86 with the slug valve outlet 87. A poppet valve 88 having a stem 89 extending therefrom through the port 86 to the exterior of the section 70 is cooperable with the port 86 to control fluid flow therethrough and is operable in the same manner as the inlet valve 79. Upon closure of the inlet valve 79 and a subsequent opening of the outlet valve 88, the compression spring 82 will act to move the diaphragm 72 to decrease the volumetric capacity of chamber 73 and force fluid through the outlet 87 and filler spout 87a to the ice mold 13. In this manner the quantity of fluid dispensed into the ice mold 13 may be exactly determined.

The pins 80 and 89 are alternately depressed as a function of the position of the power member 38 through a motion translation member 90 and an associated operating lever 91 as a function of the position of the power member 38 relative to the casing 33.

The motion translation member 90 is slidably fitted within the insulated side wall 11 of the freezing compartment 12 and its outermost end portion 92 is engageable with the pin 80 to effect operation of the inlet poppet valve 79. The upper surface of the member 90 is engageable with the pin 89 and is inclined as at 93 so that opening and closure of the poppet valves will be eifected as a function of the relative axial position of the member 90. It will be noted that portions 92 and 93 of the motion translation member 90 are so configurated and positioned with respect to one another that the valves 79 and 88 can never be opened together. Cross flow is therefore not possible.

The operating lever 91 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 95 to a depending leg 96 which is formed integrally with the plate 34. The operating lever 91 has a first leg 97 which is received within an aperture 98 formed in a depending leg 99 extending downwardly from and formed integrally with the spring stirrup 40. As a result, axial movement of the spring stirrup 40 will act to' pivot the lever 91. The lever 91 also has another leg 91a which is angularly disposed with respect to the leg 97 and which has an ontturned finger 101a formed thereon which extends through an elongated aperture 102a formed in the innermost end of the motion translation member 90. The aperture 102a is considerably longer than the finger 101a is wide so that there is a lost motion connection between the lever 91 and the member 90.

It will be observed from the positioning of the parts with respect to one another that when the power member 38 is in 'a retracted position with respect to the casing 33, the lever 91 will be disposed in a clockwise rotated position. When the lever 91 is so disposed, the member 90 will be positioned to the right to effect opening of the outlet poppet valve and closure of the inlet poppet valve so that the ice mold 13 can be filled.

As the power member 38 moves extensibly from the casing 33 to compress springs 45 and 47 the lever 91 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction. Initial upward movement of the power member 38 will, of course, not effect axial movement of the member 90 due to the lost motion connection between the lever 91 and member 90 but further upward movement of the power member 38 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 will eflect movement of elements 91 and 90 to a sufiicient degree to open the inlet valve 79. This action will, of course, take place almost simultaneously with ice block ejection.

Energization of the ice making assembly as a function of the level of ejected ice blocks'is effected by means of an ice level sensing arm 100. The arm 100 is connected to and extends radially from one end of a shaft 101 which is journalled for rotatable movement within the insulated side wall 11. A lever 102 has a first leg 103 extending therefrom which is shown in FIGURE 2 as lying adjacent the snap lever 104 of a well known type of snap action switch 105 'which is mounted on the outer wall of the slug valve 69. A second leg 107 is formed integrally with but is different from the leg 103 and extends in an opposite direction therefrom.

. Another lever 108 is freely mounted on the shaft 101 for relative rotation with respect thereto. This lever has a leg 109 extending therefrom which is connected, through a tension spring 110 with the leg 107. The lever 108 also has an outturned detent 112 formed integrally therewith which in engageable with the leg 103 so that counterclock- Wies rotation of the lever 108 will effect similar rotation of the lever 102. a

An outturned arm 113 of the lever 108 is pivotally secured to the upermost end of a rod 114 which, in turn, extends upwardly from the diaphragm 72 through the upper section 71 of the slug valve 69.

hus, upward movement of the diaphragm 72 will act through the rod 114 to pivot the lever 108 in a clockwise direction and such pivotal movement of that lever will act through the tension spring 110 to similarly pivot the lever 102 and the sensing arm 100 connected therewith in a clockwise direction. Assuming that the path of pivotal movement of the sensing arm 100 is unobstructed the arm and lever 102 will pivot to the positions illustrated in FIGURE 2 and the leg 103 will contact the snap lever 104 of the switch 105 to energize that switch or close a circuit therethrough. Snap action switches of the type illustrated in FIGURE 2 are quite well known in the art and it is sulficient to state that the switch is normally in an open circuit position and that depression of the snap lever 104 in the foregoing manner will effect closure of the switch.

It will be observed, however, that if a complete pivotal stroke of the sensing arm 100 is prevented due to a high level of ice thereunder the leg 103 will not move into contact with the snap lever 104 and closure of the circuit therethrough will not be effected.

' It will now be understood that if a resistor heater is associated with the temperature sensitive. portion 37 of the power unit 30 and this heater is energized only upon closure of a circuit through the switch 105, the operation of the entire ice making assembly will be eifected as a function of the level of ice beneath the sensing arm 100. Thus, if a, collection tray is disposed beneath the mold blockll) to collect ice blocks ejected from the mold Well. 13 and the ice blocks within that tray are disposed in th path of movement of the sensing arm 100 when they have reached a predetermined level. therein, further cycling of the ice making apparatus after the sensing arm has contacted this high level of ice will be prevented. The power member 38 will be in an extended position with respect to, the casing 33 when the expansible material within the sensing portion 37 is frozen or-nearly frozen after an ice block has been ejected. If energization of a resistor heater 120, wound about the sensing portion 37, is prevented in the manner heretofore described, the power member 38 will not be moved retractably with respect to the casing 33 so that the slug valve inlet 76 will remain open but further cycling of the apparatus will not be permitted.

Upon removal of the obstruction in the path of piv- ,otalmovement of the sensing arm 100, energization of the resistor heater 120 will be effected and the power member 38 will move retractably with respect to the casing 33 and such movement will act through members 90 and 91 to close the slug valve inlet 76 and open'the :slug valve outlet 87 to initiate another cycle of oper- .ation. Opening oflthe slug valve outlet 87"will, of course, permit the diaphragm 72 to be moved downwardly to decrease the volumetric capacity of chamber 8 and deenergization of the resistor heater 120, will be effected.

It will be understood that this embodiment of the invention has been used for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications and variations in the present invention may be effective without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ice making apparatus comprising an ice mold having a base and having a movable element defining at least a portion of the base thereof, a rectilinearly movable power member coaXially aligned with said base and movable relative thereto to strike said element to dislodge an ice block from said mold, valve means for filling said ice mold with water upon actuation thereof, a motion translation member cooperable with said valve means, the relative position of' said motion translation member with respect to said valve means controlling actuation of said valve means, a stirrup connected to said power member and axially movable therewith, a pivoted leg engageable with said motion translation member for positioning the latter, and a second leg connected to said first-mentioned leg and engageable with said stirrup for effecting pivotal movement of said first-mentioned leg as a function of the position of said power member relative to said base.

2. An ice making apparatus comprising an ice mold having a base and having a movable element defining at least a portion of the base thereof, a rectilinearly movable power member coaxially aligned with said base and movable relative thereto to strike said element to dislodge an ice block from said mold, valve means for filling said ice mold with water upon actuation thereof, a motion translation member cooperable with said valve means, the relative position of said motion translation member with respect to said valve means controlling actuation of said valve means, a pivoted lever engageable with said motion translation member for positioning the latter, and means directly connected to said power memw ber and continuously movable therewith for pivoting said lever as a function of the position of said power member relative to said base. i

3. An ice making apparatus comprising an ice mold having a base and having a movable element defining at least a portion of the base thereof, a rectilinearly movable power member coaxially aligned with said base and movable relative thereto to strike said element to dis-v lodge an ice block from said mold, valve means for filling said ice mold With water upon actuation thereof, a motion translation member cooperable with said valve means, the relative position of said motion translation member with respect to said valve means controlling actuation of said valve means, a pivoted lever engageable with said motion translation member for positioning the latter, and means connecting said lever with said power member and movable therewith for pivoting said lever. as a function of the position of said power member relative to said base.

4. An ice making apparatus comprising an ice mold having a base and having a, movable element defining at least a portion of the base thereof, a rectilinearly movable power member coaxially'aligned with said base and movable relative thereto to strike said element to dislodge an ice block from said mold, valve means for filling said ice mold with water upon actuation thereto, a motion translation member cooperable with said valve means, the relative position of said motion translation member with respect to said valve means controlling actuation of said valve means, means connected to said power member and axially movable therewith, a pivoted leg engageable with said motion translation member for positioning the latter, and a second leg connected to said first mentioned leg and engageable with said power member connecting means for effecting pivotal movement of said first-mentioned leg as a function of the position of said power member relative to said base.

5. An ice making apparatus comprising an ice mold for containing water to be frozen into ice blocks and having a resilient base wall, nonresilient abutment means centrally secured to said resilient base wall, means for freezing Water within said ice mold, power means engageable with said abutment means for hammering same to effect ice block ejecting movement thereof, valve means for filling said ice mold with water upon actuation thereof, a motion translation member cooperable with said valve means, the relative position of said motion translation member with respect to said valve means controlling actuation of said valve means, a pivoted lever engageable with said motion translation member for positioning the latter, and means connected to said power means and movable therewith for pivoting said lever as a function of the position of said power means relative to said abutment means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,368,181 Vernet Jan. 30, 1945 2,471,655 Rundell May 31, 1949 2,487,408 Askin Nov. 8, 1949 2,767,557 Hubacher Oct. 23, 1956 2,776,545 Miller Jan. 8, 1957 2,808,707 Chace Oct. 8, 1957 2,833,123 Kennedy May 6, 1958 2,969,651 Bauerlein Jan. 31, 1961 2,981,079 Fink Apr. 25, 1961 

